Chapter 34:

Chapter 34:

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Immediately after Hyun-gwang’s treatment was finished, around evening time.

Hyun-gwang, who was resting after the treatment, began speaking in a gentle tone.

“Mu-jin. Could you show me the martial arts you demonstrated at the Entrance Examination?”

“Yes, Master.”

“Hahaha. It’s alright to call me grandfather comfortably.”

“Understood, Grand... father.”

Mu-jin replied awkwardly.

As is often the case with human nature, they readily find solutions and offer advice for others’ issues but struggle to understand their own.

Similarly, Mu-jin was not fully aware of the sense of indebtedness he felt towards his grandparents that resided deep within his psyche.

Moreover, every time he used the term ‘grandfather’, it made him feel even more awkward as it overlaid with the image of his own grandfather when he looked at Hyun-gwang.

Understanding Mu-jin’s feelings, Hyun-gwang nodded his head with an affectionate smile.

“Since we need to move, let’s step outside.”

No sooner had Hyun-gwang spoken than Beob Geon, always quick to assist as his habit, moved to help, but Mu-jin was quicker.

“You have been busy taking care of the elder since morning, master, so please feel free to rest. I will carry the elder.”

Beob Geon, who was about to get up, looked at Hyun-gwang with an embarrassed expression and when Hyun-gwang nodded happily, Beob Geon conceded his turn to Mu-jin.

After carrying Hyun-gwang on his back and walking out the door with Beob Geon, Mu-jin placed Hyun-gwang on the large front porch and took his position in the courtyard.

“Hoo.”

After taking a light deep breath, he began to demonstrate the martial arts he had conceived one after another.

The punches, palms, hands, kicks, and finger techniques released by Mu-jin – every move burst with a powerful explosive sound.

“Hahaha. Truly excellent.”

“That is so, Master.”

[1:17 AM]

Hyun-gwang and Beob Geon looked on contentedly for a moment. After Mu-jin finished his demonstration, Hyun-gwang spoke in a low voice.

“Mu-jin.”

“Yes, Grandfather.”

“While your current martial arts are sufficiently excellent, if you continue to enhance its power, you will reach a point where you can no longer sustain it with external energy alone.”

“...”

“Therefore, how about you try learning the Vajra Fist from now?”Rêađ latest cha/p/ters on no/v/e/l(b)in(.)c/o/m

“The Vajra Fist?”

Mu-jin asked back, and Hyun-gwang nodded and continued to explain.

“Yes. As you can see from the name, Vajra Fist, like the Xiao Hong Quan you’ve learned, is based on the Diamond Sutra. There are many key points that connect to Xiao Hong Quan, which will make it much easier to reinforce the martial arts you’ve created.”

“Ah...”

“Additionally, among the key points of the Vajra Fist, there are those specifically for controlling the mighty power of the Vajra Fist. Therefore, while learning the forms and key points of Vajra Fist, it would be beneficial to focus particularly on understanding the key points of the initial three seconds, six seconds, and eight seconds. For the initial three seconds, as it is said, ‘All conditioned phenomena are like a dream, illusion, bubble, shadow, like dew or lightning, and should thus be viewed’”.

Starting from the key points of the initial three seconds of the Vajra Fist, Hyun-gwang explained each key point and added how they could be integrated with Mu-jin’s martial arts.

“However, this is just an explanation of the key points. To truly incorporate these key points into your martial arts, constant effort will be necessary.”

“Thank you, Grandfather!”

Mu-jin bowed deeply, his face filled with emotion, paying his respects to Hyun-gwang.

For Mu-jin, who had fallen into the world of martial arts novels, this was the first time someone had so clearly pointed him in the right direction.

No, it was not just after he fell into the world of martial arts novels, but after he lost his grandparents and was forcibly discharged from the military, thrown into the world.

For over a decade, Mu-jin had to grow strong on his own.

Therefore, for a brief moment, the image of Hyun-gwang overlapped with that of his own grandfather in Mu-jin’s eyes.

He remembered the time when his grandfather taught him how to ride a bicycle, and when he held his small hand and walked with him to elementary school despite his sore knees—to show him the way.

The memories of his grandfather trying to fill the role of his parents.

With a whoosh.

Feeling like his vision was becoming blurry, Mu-jin shook his head vigorously. It felt like he was unnecessarily falling into sentimentality just because he was inside a novel.

[1:26 AM]

Rather than indulging in sentimentality, Mu-jin, who preferred to work towards seeing the end of the novel, tried out the key points Hyun-gwang had just explained, swinging his fists a few times.

He was apprehensive that premature exercise might exacerbate Hyun-gwang’s condition before the treatment could take full effect.

“It’s not for immediate use. I’m thinking of equipment that can be used after at least a month has passed and he is able to move on his own. Also, the equipment for Grandfather is not for training but for therapeutic purposes. They’re structurally different.”

The equipment Mu-jin intended to custom order was apparatus commonly used in Pilates.

In modern times, Pilates was oddly often considered an exercise primarily for women’s fitness, with many Pilates centers even restricting men’s entry. However, Pilates was originally developed for rehabilitation of war prisoners and injured soldiers during World War I.

For Hyun-gwang, it was said to be an ideal form of exercise.

“Hmm. If it’s for the treatment of Abbot Hyun-gwang, I doubt the treasury will refuse it. Proceed as you wish.”

As Hyun Seong gave his consent, Mu-jin began to sketch out Pilates equipment on paper.

‘...But, can these be made in this era?’

The tools commonly used in Pilates, such as foam rollers, resistance bands, Pilates arcs, and reformers, were mostly made from materials like rubber, styrofoam, or plastic.

Realizing this, Mu-jin added amendments to his drawings.

[1:49 AM]

‘Well, springs should be feasible. They are made by twisting metal like dragon whiskers, after all. And instead of plastic or styrofoam, if we use metal for the framework and cover it with thick leather...’

The raw materials Mu-jin sketched for the Pilates equipment began to transform into materials available in this era. The only issue seemed to be that compared to health equipment, the cost might skyrocket.

‘Well, that’s not my concern.’

To Mu-jin, Hyun-gwang’s health was more important than the Shaolin’s financial burden.

* * *

After concluding his meeting with Hyun Seong, the first to greet Mu-jin upon his arrival at the Arhat Faction training grounds was the trio he had been with since his novice disciple days.

“Mu-jin~!!”

“You’re here?”

“Bro, brother, today you’re a bi-, bit late, aren’t you?”

Cheerfully greeted by Mu-yul with his ever bright demeanor, the somewhat sullen Mu-gung, and Mu-gyeong, who still hadn’t completely overcome his stutter, Mu-jin simply waved his hand in response.

“How have things been lately?”

Although they still spent mornings together, in the evenings, they were each busy spending time with their respective masters, so they hadn’t been able to gather.

Naturally, Mu-jin’s question was about how well they were getting along with their masters.

“Heheh. It’s fun!”

“Sigh...”

“...”

The trio displayed a rather peculiar set of reactions.

Bright and cheerful Mu-yul was one thing, and Mu-gyeong, who always seemed gloomy except when lost in his own world, was another, but even Mu-gung was letting out a deep sigh from his danjeon.

With a puzzled look, Mu-jin asked Mu-gung.

“Why? Is there a problem?”

This was the same person who seemed like he was on cloud nine when he became a third-class disciple and was chosen as a successor by Hye-dam.

“Just... feeling a bit suffocated.”

Mu-gung’s reply, laden with complicated emotions, brought the image of Hye-dam to Mu-jin’s mind.

“Tsk. Hang in there.”

Recalling the dreadfully serious demeanor of Hye-dam, Mu-jin clicked his tongue lightly, offering sincere consolation.

Even though Mu-jin had met Hye-dam several times while treating Grandfather Hyun-gwang, he barely remembered Hye-dam speaking at length.

The thought of spending every day in the same quarters with such a person was suffocating just to imagine.

* * *

Meanwhile, somewhere within the vast Shaolin scripture halls, in a certain pavilion.

“Sigh...”

There sat a middle-aged monk, heaving a sigh similar to Mu-gung’s, but it was not Hye-dam, Mu-gung’s master.

It was Hye-geol, the current successor of the Shaolin Five Fists.

‘Heheheheheh.’

With deep furrows on his brow, he was thinking of Mu-yul, who had become his successor.

“Sigh... To think he could be that ignorant.”

Indeed.

Hye-geol was just now realizing that he had been completely taken in by Mu-yul.